Folding bracket



Dec. 18, 1934. H NY E 1,984,602

FOLDING BRACKET Filed July 11, 193].

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Patented Dec. 18, 1934 I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioE FOLDING BRACKETHarry L. Snyder, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 11, 1931, SerialNo. 550,213 I 3Claims. (01. 24819) This invention relates to bracketsand more particularly to shelves, tables and the like having collapsiblesupporting legs.

The principal objects of this invention are to increase the strength andbroaden the uses of folding brackets with or without attached shelves,and to nest bracket portions in compact form when the devices arefolded.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which isillustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. his a perspective'view of a bracket and shelf constructed inaccordance with this invention, shown mounted on a wall in functioningposition.

Fig.2 is-alongitudinal fragmentary vertical section illustrating-thehinged relations of the supporting leg and lateral arm of the bracket,and a retainer-engaging hook. Q

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the bracket in folded position.

Fig. 4 is'aperspective view of a modified form of the bracket adapted to'support a tubefor bufiing.

Fig. 5 isva perspective view of a table comprising a display shelfhaving extensible supporting bracket legs.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

'10 designates a base or support comprising preferably an elongatedsheet metal plate having edges bent to form longitudinal edge'flanges l2and provide a rigid channel-like bracket leg.

The plate is provided withopenings 14, shown aligned on the median lineof the web of the channel and'having keyhole form for mounting the plateon supporting means such as the projecting ends of screws 16 flxedin awall.

The upper end portions of theflanges 12 have end edges registeringwiththe upper and edges of the channel web to provide a housing for theinner end portion 18 of a shelf-like bracket arm 20 hinged to theflanges. The arm may besupported in angular relation with the leg aspresently described. h

The bracket arm 20 comprisespreferably an elongated sheet metal plateincluding a web 22 and longitudinal edge flanges 24 forming achannel-like bracket branch similar to the leg 10. The end portion 18 ofthe arm consists of the inner end of the web 22 extended beyond theinner end edges of the flanges 24, and preferably rolled to provide acylindrical loop. A'hinge pin 25 mounted inthe loop has studlike endsmounted in apertures in the upper end portions of the-leg flangesforpivotally connecting the inner end of the bracket arm with the leg.

The arm has less width than the space between the leg flanges, and theends of the hinge are located at points spaced slightly outwardly orforwardly from the longitudinal center lines of the leg flanges, wherebythe arcuate end edge portion 18 of the arm is spaced from the web of theleg to permit the arm to move freely pivotally on the leg into and outof nested and angular relation with the leg. The flanges 12 and 24's aresymmetrical and have substantially equal height so'that when the arm ishinged into folded relation with the leg, the arm flanges may engage theleg web, and the web of the arm will lie substantially in the plane ofthe outer edges of the leg flanges and parallel with the leg web asshown in Fig. 3.

The arm may pivot upwardly into substantially aligned relation with theleg, but the arm web will extend in a plane spaced from the Web of theleg, and may incline slightly rearwardly before the web of. the armencounters and is stopped by the upper end edge of the leg web, due tothe forwardly offset'location of the hinge pin in the leg-flanges.

A shelf or plate 26 may be fixed to the upper surface of the arm bysuitable means, with the rear edge of the shelf located adjacent theinner ends of the arm flanges.

Attention is called to the fact that the leg and arm plates havesubstantial width, several times the width of an ordinary bracket, toprovide a broad shelf support aiiording extensive lateral bearing areafor the shelf. The relatively great Width of the arm also affordsopportunity for applyingfastening means at points spaced substantiallylaterally, for example welds in the case of a metal shelf plate, andscrews 27 mounted in apertures 28 in the arm in the case of a boardshelf as shown in the drawing. A pair of the fasteners 2'7 are arrangedtransversely and located adjacent and differentially spaced from theinner end of the arm as shown, and a further fastener such as a screw 29is installed in the front portion of the arm, the fasteners thereforebeing in staggered relation, to distribute strains.

The bracket arm and shelf may be pivoted into vertical upwardlyextending position to lie against the wall, and may be hinged downwardlyto seat the arm in the leg channel whereupon the shelf will extendvertically and slightly spaced from the wall substantially by the heightof the leg flanges.

The shelf may extend vertically upwardly in a plane slightly offset fromthe plane of the leg plates, even in the case of a board havingsubstantial thickness, due to the offset position of the hinge.

The means above referred to for supporting the bracket arm in angularrelation with the leg includes a clip-like prong or hook 32 preferablyoutstruck from the web of the leg to provide an anchor, and a retainingmember 33 hinged to the arm and having a straight transverse end portion34 engageable with the hook to limit pivotal movement of the arm.

A plurality of hooks 32 are preferably formed on the median line of theleg especially when the bracket is to be provided with a shelf as shownin Fig. l, and include upwardly outwardly in clined neck portions 36having arcuate seats 38,

and resilient lips 40 inclined outwardlyfrom the 3 necks to space thelips from the web and afford easy access for the end edge 34 oftheretainer to the seat of one of the hooks. The curved seats and lipsyieldingly latch the retainer in armsupporting position. I l

The retainer may be seated in any of the hooks to cause the arm andshelf to extend at a desired inclination with respect to the leg, andprovide a horizontal or sloping shelf.

The retainer preferably is rectangular and comprises a wire bent to formparallel side branches 42 and a connecting bar comprising thehookengaging end edge portion 34 of the retainer, and havingtrunnion-like oppositely bent ends 44 journaled in one or more clip-likehooks 46 downstruck from the web of the arm. The clips 46 are formedsimilarly to the hooks 32, having arcuate seats for the loop ends, buthave lips 48 bent toward the arm web to retain the loop ends 44. 7

Attention is called to the location of the arm clips in laterally spacedrelation at points spaced a slightly greater distance from the inner endof the arm than the spacing of the leg hook from the upper end of theleg. The arm clips may therefore lie on opposite sides of the leg hookwhen the bracket is folded, and the journal-forming clip seats will liebelow the hook to prevent engagement of the clip seats and loop endswith the leg hook.

The lower leg hook shown in Fig. 1 will extend between the branches ofthe loop when the bracket is folded, and the loop will lie fiat againstthe arm web enclosed by the arm flanges, to permit the arm flanges toengage the web of the leg.

The corners and ends of the arm and leg webs are curved, and the freeend of the retaining loop lies at the extreme ends of the folded arm andleg, the corners of the retainer being exposed.

Fig. 4 illustrates an adaptation of the invention to provide a tubebufiingshelf, comprising a modified form of bracket including an armplate or web 50 having an inner end edge portion 52 rolled and mountedon a hinge pin 54 at the upper end of a bracket leg 56 similarly to themountingof the bracket arm 20 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 lf'he plate50 is arcuate, and has downbent edges 58 extended laterally to providedepending flanges having upper faces continuing the curve of the plate,and projecting over the leg flanges and substantial distances from eachside of said leg flanges.

The marginal portions 60 of the edge flanges 58 are further bent intosubstantially perpendicular relation withthe general plane of the plate50 to provide a depending rim or smooth edge portion for the plate. Theflanges 58 and rim 60 have together substantially the same height orwidth as the leg flanges.

The plate 50 may have any desired contour for accommodating work, and asshown in Fig. 4, has an outer end curved downwardly, and the rim extendsalong the sides and end of the plate, to form a surface on which aninner tube may be laid for buffing the tube.

The lower face of the plate 50 is also curved, and s'inceitisdesirablein the use described to provide a smooth imperforate upperface for the plate, a bracket 62 is preferably fixed to the lower faceof the plate by suitable means such as welding, and a cylindricaljournal member 64 is fixed to the bracket for mounting a retaining loop66 on the plate to engage a hook 68 on the leg.

Fig. 5 illustrates a further elaboration of the invention, whereina pairof brackets 70 and 72 constructed substantially as in Fig. 1, have armsfixed to the lower surface of a displayshelf 74 comprising a table orbench top, and at opposite ends of the top, and channel-like legs '76adapted to support the top. The legs are provided with means forstabilizing the table against lateral tipping, including elongatedlaterally extending footing members '78.

The footing members are preferably fixed to the lower ends of legextensions comprising channel-like members having webs 82andlongitudinally spaced openings 86 registerable with similar openings88 formed in the flanges of the bracket legs. The bracket legs areslidable in the channels of the extensions and rods 90 may be movedthrough registering openings of the leg and extension flanges forsupporting the brackets and. table top at desired elevations.

The top is provided with edge flanges or rails 92 forming a channel inwhich the legs may lie when folded.

In using the invention a shelf may be fixed to a bracket arm and the armnested in the leg for storage or transportation. The leg may be mountedon a vertical surface, for example on fixed screws, and the bracket armextended to provide a support. l

The width of the bracket arm enables it to serve as a shelf, and furtherprovides suificient lateral bearing area so that a single bracket maysecurely support a shelf having end portions extending substantialdistances laterally from the bracket, and anchored by'the substantiallyspaced transversely arranged fasteners. The bracket has utility formany' services where two or more ordinary brackets would be required,and may be used for mounting a shelf securely in positions where twoordinary brackets could not be employed.

The extensive area of the bracket plates also enhances the utility ofthe bracket arm when shaped to serve as an anvil or buffer arm. Thebracket may be mounted on a leg or side of a bench or desk, and thefolding buffer arm be extended to support work. The width of the:supporting leg enables it tobrace and firmly support the broad arm.

It is apparent that the bracket may be applied to many uses,particularly where a removable support is desired that may be storedwhen not in use, and may be folded tobe stored.

Two or more brackets may be fixed to a board and provided withextensions to form telescoping adjustable legs and wherein the legs willnest with the bracket arms and enclose the retaining loops when thetable is folded.

Tables constructed as described may have any desired form, and will beuseful for many purposes, such as service tables for invalids, picnicbenches, and racks for displaying merchandise. When formed to serve asdisplay'racks, two or more may be built up to provide a stack of racks,one standing upon another, and may be folded into small compass forstorage.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a bracket including a legcomprising a plate having longitudinal edge flanges forming a channeland provided with resilient outstruck prongs located between saidflanges and inclined toward the upper end of the plate, an armcomprising a plate having longitudinal edge flanges and provided withoutstruck prongs inclined toward the inner end of said arm to limit theheight of said prongs from the plate, means at the upper end of said legfor hingedly mounting the inner end of said arm on the flanges of theleg, and a wire bent to form a loop having one end pivotally mounted onthe prongs of said arm and an opposite end portion engageable in aselected one of said prongs on the leg for supporting the arm in angularrelation with the leg, a shelf, and means for securing the shelf to saidarm.

2. A folding bracket comprising a wall member having flanges locatedalong its opposite side edges, a shelf member having downwardlyextending side flanges hinged between the side flanges of the wallmember, a loop member having inwardly bent ends, clip means on the shelfmemher and cooperating with the flanges thereon to secure and retainsaid ends of the loop member in engagement with the shelf member, and aresilient tongue on the wall member for frictionally engaging the loopmember to prevent accidental pivotal movement of the shelf member ineither direction from its adjusted position when the loop member isengaged by said resilient tongue.

3. A folding bracket comprising a wall member having flanges locatedalong its opposite side edges, a shelf member curved to form a worksupport and having downwardly extending flanges at opposite sides of thework support and hinged to the flanges of the wall member, a loop memberhaving inwardly bent ends, clip means secured to the curved shelf memberbetween the flanges thereof and cooperating with said flanges to secureand retain the ends of the loop member, and a resilient tongue on thewall member for frictionally engaging the loop member to preventaccidental pivotal movement of the shelf member in either direction fromits adjusted position when the loop member is engaged by said resilienttongue.

HARRY L. SNYDER.

